"It appears that the pack mentality set in in this particular incident," Aaron Reyes, deputy director of the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control, told the LA Times.

Reyes said the dogs were captured Monday night.

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"They just fed off one another's energy and mischievous behavior," he told the paper.

Animal control officers are searching for a fourth pit bull and the owner, said Danny Ubario, manager of the Lancaster Animal Care Center. The dogs appeared to be strays because they were running loose without collars or tags, Ubario said.